Vertical rod, top-and-bottom panic latch mechanism



J. R. FOSTER Oct. 13, 1959 VERTICAL ROD, TOP-AND-BOTTOM PANIC LATCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 25, 1957 IS Sheets-Sheet 1 llll p JOHN R.Fos R W ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1959 VERTICAL ROD, TOP-AND-BOTTOM Filed Feb. 25, 1957 J. R. FOSTER PANIC LATCH MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN R. FOSTER 0 WM BJAVQ ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1959 J. R. FOSTER 2,908,523

VERTICAL ROD, TOP-AND-BOTTOM PANIC LATCH NECHANISM Filed Feb. 25, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY United States Patent "l c 2,908,523 I VERTICAL ROD, TOP AND-B'OTTOM PANIC LATCH MECHANISM John RrFoster, Indianapolis; Ind., assignor to Vonnegut Hardware Company, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application February 25, 1957, Serial No. 642,051

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-333) position the latch bolts of both upper and lower latch mechanisms from the time when the latch bolts are retracted, by actuation of the panic bar mechanism, until the door returns to closed position, when the latch bolts 2,908,523 Eatenteti Oct. 13, 1959 Fig. 14 is an elevation taken from the left-hand side of Fig. 13.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that I have shown, in Fig. 1, a conventional double door arrangement including doors 2!), 20. Mounted on the free edge of each door is an upper latch mechanism 21, a lower latch mechanism 22 and a panic bar mechanism 23. Each panic bar mechanism 23 comprises a panic bar 28 mounted for limited oscillation about trunnionmeans 29 and so constructed'and arranged that, upon depression of the bar 28 from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3, rod means 24, 24, suitably guided for reciprocation relative to the door, will be shifted upwardly. The mechanism whereby the bar 28 is connected toactuate the rod means may be conventional and forms no part of the present invention, and therefore is not illuswill be automatically returned to projected positions. The

provision. of such retaining means, in suchan organization, is the primary object of the invention. A further object is to provide such means in an unusually simple form. A. still further object of the invention is to design the elements of such an organization in such fashion as to minimize the number of different parts required to complete theorganization, whereby the manufacturing cost of the complete assembly is held to a minimum- Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Tothe accomplishment ofthe above and related objects,

my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying: drawings, attention-being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and

that change may be made inthe specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a double door arrangement equipped with a panic latch mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 isan elevation drawnto a somewhat enlarged scale, of. the free edge ofone ofthe doors of Fig.1, showing the latch mechanismindoor=retaining association with a threshold and a strike;

Fig. 3 is a similarview'but. showing the door in open condition and withthe latch bolts held in retracted condition;.

Fig.x4 is-aside-elevation; drawn toan enlarged scale, of the upper latch mechanism-forming a part of the present invention;

Fig.- 51' is a'similar View, with-one side wall of the frame removed; 7

Fig. 6 is a view-similar to'Fig. 5 but showing the latch bolt in retractedpositionsand the control slide inprojected position;

Fig. 7 is'a-view sirriilarto Fig. 5 but with the control slide removed;

Fig. 8 isan' elevation taken from the left-hand side of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9*is aside elevation of the lowerlatch mechanism;

Fig. 10 -is.-a-view similar to Fig. 9'but withone side wall of the frame removed;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but withthe control slide-removed;

Fig. 12 is an'elevationtaken from-the right-hand side of Fig. 10;

Fig; 13 is an-elevation; to a reducedscale, of the upper latchimech'anism' seerrfrom thecrightehandrsidei of Fig. 4 and with the mechanism mounted in its housing; and

trated or described in detail.

A strike 25 is carried on the plate 26 at the top of the doorway for cooperative association with the latch mechanism 21, and a threshold plate 27 may be suitably mounted at-the bottom of the doorway for cooperative association with the latch mechanism 22.

The upper latch mechanism 21 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 to 8' inclusive, and comprises a frame, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30, and formed to provide'a base wall 31 and a pair of parallel, spaced side walls32: and 33' projecting in a common direction from the base wall 3'1, said frame being open at its upper and lowerends'. Near the upper end of the frame, a fulcrum bar 34 spans, and is supported in, the walls 32 and 33; and a latch bolt 35 is supported for oscillation upon said fulcrum bar 3'4. The latch bolt 35'is formed. to provide a first arm 36 which, as the bolt is moved from the positionofFigs. 4, 5 and7 to the position of Fig. 6, is shifted from projected position, beyond and above the open upper end of the frame 30, to retracted position in which its extremity lies near or below the upper end of the frame. The other arm 37 of the bolt 35 (see Fig. 7) projects generally downwardly from the fulcrum bar 34.

A lever 38 is supported, intermediate its ends, for oscillation about the axis of a second fulcrum bar 39 which spans, and is supported from, the'frame side walls 32 and 33; and one end or arm 40 of said lever 38 projects generallyupwardly from the fulcrum bar 39' andis formed, in its distal end, with a slot 41 in which is received a pin or roller 42 carried near the extremity of the arm 37 of the latch bolt 35, whereby an operative connection is provided between the lever 38 and the bolt 35. The other end or arm 43' of the lever 38 projects generally toward the base wall 31 of the frame and is provided, in its distal end; with a slot 44 inwhich is operatively received a pin or roller 45 carried at the upper end of an actuator member 46.

Asis perhaps most clearly seen in Fig. 8, the actuator 46 is slidably guided against the base wall 31 and be tween the side walls32 and 33 for reciprocation in the lower end of the frame 30 and, in some positions, projects below the open, lower end of said frame. A stud 47 is carried on that face of the actuator remote from the base wall 31 and is engageable with a tab 48, bent out of the plane of the wall 33, to limit upward movement of said actuator. The tab48, of course, also assists in retaining the actuator 46 against movement away from the base wall 31.

At its lower end, the actuator is formed to provide asocket 49, the lower wall of which is formed with an opening? 50; and a head (not shown) on the upper end of the rod means 24 is receivable in said socket, the rod means itself passing through the opening 50, to provide a two-way operative connection between the upper rod means 24and the actuator 46.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 8, the upper end of the 3 actuator 46 is preferably bifurcated, the furcations 51, 51 straddling the distal end of the arm 43 of the lever 38.

Mounted alongside the latch bolt 35 and the actuator 46 and for reciprocation within the frame 30 is a slide member 52 formed, at its upper end, with a camming face 53 adapted for cooperative engagement with the strike 25 as the door on which the latch mechanism is mounted, moves to closed position. In its edge remote from the base Wall 31, the slide 52 is formed with a longitudinally elongated notch 54 bounded at its upper end by a shoulder 55 and at its lower end by an upwardly facing abutment surface or shoulder 56. The notch 54 is so disposed that, when the parts are assembled with the latch bolt 35 in its projected position, and the slide 52 in its retracted position, the pin or roller 42 will be received in said notch.

Beneath the notch 54, the slide is formed to provide an abutment surface 57 facing away from the frame base wall 31; and the parts are so proportioned and designed that, when the latch bolt 35 is moved to its retracted position, and the slide 52 is projected, the pin or roller 42 will register with, and engage, said abutment surface 57, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

A deep slot 58, opening through the lower end of the slide 52 accommodates a coiled spring 59 which is confined between the upper end of the slot 58 and a tab 60 bent inwardly from the frame wall 32, said spring continuously and resiliently urging the slide 52 upwardly toward its projected position. A stud 61, integrally formed on and projecting from that surface of the slide 52 which is adjacent the frame wall 32, is received in an elongated slot 62 in said frame wall, to aid in guiding the slide 52 and to limit the extent of the reciprocating movement of said slide.

The frame 30 is formed with a plurality of laterally extending ears 63 formed with perforations 67 therethrough, said ears lying in the plane of the base wall 31, whereby the frame may be secured to a surface of a door 20. A housing 64 (Figs. 13 and 14) is proportioned and designed to cover and enclose the frame 30, said housing being formed with appropriate tables or shoulders 65 to receive the ears 63, whereby the boundary flange of the housing may lie flush with the outer surface of the base wall 31 and against the door to which the frame is secured. The housing is formed with one or more perforations 68 through which screws or other suitable fastening means may be projected to engage in perforations 69 in the side walls 32 and 33 of the frame 30.

In Figs. 9 to 12, I have illustrated the details of the lower latch mechanism 22. That mechanism comprises a frame 30 in all respects identical with the frame 30 and comprising a base wall 31 from which project parallel, spaced side walls 32' and 33'. A fulcrum bar 34 spans said side walls and forms a mounting upon which a latch bolt 71 is oscillatably supported. Said latch bolt 71 is formed to provide an arm 72 which, as the latch bolt moves about the axis of the fulcrum bar 34', will be shifted from its illustrated, projected position to a retracted position in which the extremity of said arm is near to, or above, the lower end of the frame 30'. Said latch bolt is further formed with a rounded projection 73 at a position remote from the extremity of the arm 72.

Mounted alongside the bolt 71 and for reciprocation longitudinally of the frame 30 is a slide 74 similar, in many respects, to the slide 52. A projection 75 from that face of the slide adjacent the frame 'wall 32' is received in a slot 62' in said wall; and said projection, by such engagement, aids in guiding the slide in its reciprocating path, and limits the extent of its stroke.

A deep slot 77 opens through the upper end of the slide 74 and receives a coiled spring 78 which is confined between the lower end of said slot and a tab 60 bent inwardly from the wall 32', said spring constantly re- .4 siliently urging the slide 74 to its lowermost, projected position.

The opposite face of the slide 74 carries a laterally projecting rib 80 which, as is most clearly seen in Fig. 10, is extended transversely with respect to the length of the slide 74 and cooperatively engages the rounded projection 73 on the latch bolt 71. Thus, the spring 78 resiliently urges both the slide 74 and the latch bolt 71 to projected positions, and resiliently resists retraction of the latch bolt.

Link means 81 is adapted to be received, at its lower end, in a cavity 82 formed in the upper surface of the latch bolt 71, and is formed, at its lower end, with a head 83 provided with a transversely extending slot 84 in which is engaged a pin 85 traversing the cavity 82. The upper end of the link means 81 is secured, by means of a pin 86, to an actuator 46' which is similar in all respects to the actuator 46. A stud 47 on the actuator 46 is engageable with a tab 48' to limit downward move-. ment of the actuator; and at its upper end, said actuator is formed to provide a cavity 49 having an opening 50 thereinto. A head (not shown) on the lower rod means 24 is receivable in said cavity 49, the rod means being accommodated in the opening 50, to provide a two-way connection between the actuator 46 and the lower rod means 24.

As in the case of the upper latch mechanism, the actuator 46' is preferably bifurcated at its lower end and the furcations 51', 51 straddle the upper end of the link means 81 and are secured thereto by the pin 86. Obviously, this arrangement provides a connection between the actuator 46' and the latch bolt 71 such that upward movement of the actuator will retract the arm 72 of the latch bolt and downward movement of the actuator will project that arm.

In this assembly, the fulcrum pin 39' supports no oscillatable element, but merely connects and braces the walls 32' and 33. The frame 30' is provided with ears 63 formed with perforations 67 for securing the frame to a door surface; and a housing identical 'with the housing 64 will preferably be associated with the frame 30', in the manner above-described, and will be secured in place by fastening elements engaged in perforations 69' in the walls 32' and 33.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the link means 81 and the lever 38 may be made up from a plurality of separate stampings, as suggested in Figs. 12 and 8.

It will be apparent from the above description that normally the latch bolt arms 36 and 72 will be resiliently held in their projected positions by the action of the spring 78. Said spring normally holds the slide 74 in projected position and the rib 80, bearing on the rounded projection 73 of the latch bolt 71, holds said latch bolt in projected position whenever the slide 74 is so projected. Through the link means 81, the actuator 46' is held in its lowermost position when the latch bolt 71 is in projected position; and, through the rod means 24, which provides a rigid connection between the actuators 46' and 46, the actuator 46 will be held likewise in its lowermost position. It will be obvious, of course, that the upper and lower rod means 24 may constitute a single rod or separate rods rigidly connected through the actuating means (not shown) embodied in the panic latch mechanism 23.

As has been explained, when the actuator 46 is in its lowermost position, the other parts of the upper latch mechanism 21 will be in the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 7, wherein the arm 36 of the latch bolt 35 is projected and the slide 52 is held in its retracted position by the engagement of the pin or roller 42 with the abutment surface 56.

If, now, the panic bar 28 is moved to the position of Fig. 3, the rod means 24 will thereby be elevated, and the actuators 46 and 46 will be moved to their uppermost positions. As the actuator 46 moves upwardly, the lever 38 is swung in a counterclockwise direction, whereby the roller 42 is moved to the left to. disengage the abutment surface 56. As the. roller -leaves th at abutment surface, the spring 59 acts on the slide 52 to shift'the slide 52 to its projected position as illustrated in Fig. 6. At the same time, of course, the latch bolt 35 is swung in, a clockwise direction to'retract its arm 36. Simultaneously, the link means 81 acts on the latch bolt 71, as the actuator 46 moves upwardly, to swing that latch bolt in a clockwise direction to retract its, arm 72.,

Thus, the latch bolt 35 disengages the strike 25 and the latch bolt 72 disengages the threshold: plate 27 to release the door 20 to swing to open position. Engagement of the roller 42. with the abutment surface 57, however, restrains the latch bolt 35 against counter-clockwise movement and restrains the lever 38 against clockwise movement. Thereby, the actuator 416 isheld against downward movement and, through the rodcmea ns 24, the actuator 46 is held against downward movement under the infiuence of the spring 78 actingthrough the rib 80, the projection 73, the latch bolt 71 and. the link means 81. Thus, both latch bolts will be held in, retracted positions for so long as the abutment surface 57 remains in engagement with the roller 42.

However, as the door 20 returns toward closed position, the camming surface 53 of the projected slide 52 will engage the strike 25-, whereby the slide 52 will be pressed downwardly against the tendency of the spring 59; and, as the slide moves downwardly the abutment surface 57 will be moved out of the path of the roller 42 and the notch 54 will be brought into registry with the path of said roller. Now, the spring 78 immediately becomes effective to move the slide 74 downwardly, whereby the rib 89, acting on the projection 73,.will swing the latch bolt 71 in a counterclockwise direction to project its arm 72. Such movement of the latch bolt 71 acts through the link means 81, the. actuator 46, the rod means 24 and the actuator 46 to swing the lever 38 in a clockwise direction, whereby the latch bolt 35 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction to its projected positi'on as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5; In this projected position of the latch bolt 35, the roller 42 again engages the abutment surface 56 to hold'the slide 52 in retracted position against the tendency of the spring 59.

I claim as myinvention:

1. A latch 'mecl'ianism comprising a frame having parallel side Walls and open at its opposite ends, fulcrum means supported from said side walls near one end of said frame, a latch bolt supported from said fulcrum means for oscillation and having a first arm movable upon oscillation of said bolt in one direction, to a position beyond said one end of said frame, a second fulcrum means supported from said side walls and more remote from said one end of said frame, a lever pivotally supported between its ends from said second fulcrum means, said bolt having another arm operatively connected with one end of said lever, an actuator mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame, the other end of said lever being operatively connected with said actuator, a slide mounted for reciprocation in said frame adjacent said bolt, spring means urging said slide toward a position in which an end thereof projects beyond said one end of said frame for retractive actuation, said slide being formed to provide at least two abutment surfaces, and abutment means on said bolt cooperatively engageable with one of said abutment surfaces, when said first bolt arm is in its projected position, to hold said slide in retracted position again-st the tendency of said spring means, and engageable with another of said abutment surfaces, when said slide is in its projected position, to hold said first bolt arm in retracted position.

2. A latch mechanism comprising a frame having parallel side walls and open at its opposite ends, fulcrum means supported from said side walls near one end of said frame, a latch bolt supported from said fulcrum means for oscillation and having a first arm movable, upon oscillation of said bolt in one direction to a position beyond said one end of said frame, a second fulcrum means supported from said side walls and more remote from said one end of said frame, a lever pivotally supported between its ends [from said second fulcrum. means, said bolt having another arm operatively connected withone end of said lever, an actuator mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in said frame adjacent the oppositeend ofrsaid frame, the other end of said lever being operatively connected with said actuator, a slide mounted for reciprocation in said frame adjacent said bolt, spring means urging said slide toward a position in which an end thereof projects beyond said one end of said; frame for retractive actuation, abutment means projecting from said another bolt arm into the path of said slide, said slide being formed with a first abutment surface disposed for engagement with said abutment means when said bolt is in projected position and said slide is in retracted position to restrain said slide against projection under the influence of said' spring means, and said slide being formed with a second abutment surface disposed for engagement with said abutment means when said bolt is in retracted position and said slide is in projected position to restrain said bolt against projection.

3. A latch mechanism, comprising a frame having parallel side walls and open at its opposite ends, fulcrum means supported from said side walls near one end of said frame, a latch bolt supported from said fulcrum means for oscillation and having a first arm movable, upon oscillation of said bolt in one direction, to a position beyond said one end ofsaid frame, a. second fulcrum means supported from said. side Walls and more remote from said one end of said frame, a lever pivotally supported between its ends from said second fulcrum means, said bolt having another arm operatively connected with one end of said lever, an actuator mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame, the other end of said lever being operatively connected with said actuator, aslid'e mounted for reciprocation in said frame in side-by-side relation to said bolt, an expansion spring, engaging said slide and means on one of said side walls to urge said slide toward a position in which an end thereof'projects beyond said one end of said frame for refractive actuation, saidslide' being formed with a notch defined. at one end by a shoulder facing toward said one end of said frame, and abutment means projecting laterally from said another arm of said bolt and received in said notch, when said bolt is in projected position and said slide is in retracted position, and engaging said shoulder to restrain said slide against projection under the influence of said spring, said slide being formed to provide a second abutment surface, engaged by said abutment means when said bolt is retracted and said slide is projected, to restrain said bolt against projection.

4. A safety panic exit device for a door comprising a first latch mechanism adapted to be mounted on a door near the top thereof, said first latch mechanism comprising a frame having a base wall for attachment to such a door and parallel side walls projecting from said base wall away from the door when said frame is so attached, said frame being open at its upper end lower ends, fulcrum means supported from said side walls near the upper end of said frame, a first latch bolt supported from said fulcrum means for oscillation and having a first arm movable, upon oscillation of said bolt in one direction, to a position above said upper frame end, a second fulcrum means supported from said side walls below said first-named fulcrum means, a lever pivotally supported between its ends from said second fulcrum means, said bolt having another arm operatively connected with one end of said lever, a first actuator mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in said frame adjacent the lower end thereof, the other end of said lever being operatively connected to said actuator, a slide mounted for reciprocation in said frame adjacent said bolt, spring means urging said slide toward a position in which anend thereof-projects above said upper end of said frame for retractive actuation, abutment means on said bolt and abutment means of said slide cooperatively associated with each other and acting, when said first bolt arm is in its projected position, to hold said slide in retracted position, to re: lease said slide for projection thereof when said first bolt arm is retracted, and, when said slide is in-projected position, to hold said first bolt arm in retracted position, a second latch mechanism adapted to be mounted on the same door near the bottom thereof, said second latch mechanism comprising a frame substantially identical with said first named frame, fulcrum means supported from the side walls of said last-named frame near the lower end thereof, a second latch bolt supported from said last-named fulcrum means for oscillation and movable, upon oscillation of said second bolt in one direction, to a position below the lower end of said last-named frame, a second slide mounted in said last-named frame for reciprocation, spring means resiliently resisting upward movement of said second slide, abutment means on said second bolt and abutment means on said second slide cooperatively associated to move said second slide upwardly against the resistance of said spring means as a result of retractive movement of said second bolt, a second actuator mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in said second frame adjacent the upper end thereof, means providing an operative connection between said second actuator and said second bolt to retract said second bolt upon upward movement of said second actuator, panic bar mechanism adapted to be mounted on the same door intermediate said latch mechanisms, and rod means providing an operative connection between said panic bar mechanism and said first and second actuators to shift said actuators, upon actuation of said panic bar mechanism to retract said second latch bolt and the first arm of said first latch bolt, said rod means having a two-way connection with each of said actuators whereby neither actuator can move without corresponding movement of the other.

5. A latch mechanism comprising a frame having parallel side walls and open at its opposite ends, fulcrum means supported from said side walls near one end of said frame, a latch bolt supported from said fulcrum means for oscillation and having a portion movable, upon oscillation of said bolt in one direction, to a projected position beyond said one end of said frame, an actuator mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame, means operatively connecting said actuator and said bolt to retract said bolt, a slide mounted for reciprocation in said frame adjacent said bolt, spring means urging said slide for movement toward said one end of said frame, and abutment means on said bolt and abutment means on said slide cooperatively associated to move said bolt toward projected position as a result of movement of said slide toward said one end of said frame.

6. A latch mechanism comprising a frame having parallel side walls and open at its opposite ends, fulcrum means supported from said side walls near one end of said frame, a latch bolt supported from said fulcrum means for oscillation and having a portion movable, upon oscillation of said bolt in one direction, to a projected position beyond said one end of said frame, an actuator mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in said frame adjacent the opposite end of said frame, means operatively connecting said actuator and said bolt, a slide mounted for reciprocation in said frame in side-by-side relation to said bolt, a coiled compression spring confined between mutually facing abutment surfaces on said frame and on said slide and resiliently urging said slide for movement toward said one end of said frame; a lateral projection on that face of said slide adjacent said bolt and elongated in a direction transverse to the axis of said fulcrum means and to the path of reciprocation of said slide, and a rounded projection on said bolt proportioned and arranged to wipe along said lateral projection, as said bolt oscillates in a direction to retract its projectible portion, and to force said slide away from said one end of said frame against the tendency of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,130,266 Gold Mar. 2, 1915 1,140,343 Arens May 18, 1915 1,469,590 Palmer Oct. 2, 1923 1,518,187 Dyer Dec. 9, 1924 2,752,773 Abelson et al. July 3, 1956 2,836,451 Clifton May 27, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No., 2,908,523 October 13, 1959 John R0 Foster It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numb ered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 61, for "end" read and 5 001mm '7, line 4,, for "of said" read on said 1 Attest:

KARL Ho AXLINE Attesting Officer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

